Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503290004
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Blacksburg's east-side infrastructure cannot handle the additional 10 percent to 15 percent population increase that Patton's Grant represents. The Harding/Owens/Roanoke/Main Street ``corridor'' would become a huge bottleneck and extremely dangerous when it becomes the preferred route for some 2,500 Patton's Grant residents heading toward New River Valley Mall or downtown. Other aspects of the infrastructure are likewise inadequate. ``Fixing'' them would require costs be borne by the entire community for decades to come.
Meaningful and appropriate development makes good sense, but development that benefits a small number at the expense of the community is not in our best interest. As development continues in and around Blacksburg, we must make every effort to ensure that it is sensible and appropriate and will indeed enhance rather than detract from our community.
Mark Sanders
Blacksburg
4x4 not wanted
As a concerned parent of a student who will attend Christiansburg High School next year, I attended the School Board meeting March 7 to get information about four-by-four block scheduling.
Had my child not mentioned the meeting to me the day before, I would not have been aware of what could have an impact on student schedules for the next school year.
Changing from the present seven class periods of 45 minutes each to four classes of 90 minutes each is something students and parents should have been informed about before any meeting.
During four years of high school, a student will be able to take 32 possible classes - core and elective.- a scheduling issue to be reckoned with at what expense? A student might take a math class during the first semester of the school year and not take another until the next year. I guess they hope students would retain all that information.
Should a student miss a day, does that make it twice as hard to catch up and complete homework? Band and chorus students may get their classes, but would there be concerts or trips? These have always been a part of the high school experience.
I hope this is not an experiment, as tried in other school districts, some of which have gone back to the old system. Surely there are positives and negatives which need to be balanced, but not at the expense of our children's future.
Richard T. Stanford
Christiansburg
Site not suitable
Bob Rogers of Architectural Alternatives has acted as chief lobbyist for a rezoning request to permit construction of a high-density community, Patton's Grant, in northeast Blacksburg [guest column, March 7 Current].
Increasingly alarmed citizens have raised many questions about the site's unsuitability for a high-density development. The site is surrounded by single-family dwellings, the terrain is steep, and high-density construction is likely to cause floods. The site has a number of sinkholes. Road improvements and the extension of water and sewer services are likely to be very expensive.
Rogers has not answered these concerns. Through his lack of answers, he demonstrated that no engineering studies have been done. It also became clear that this ill-conceived development would have a very negative impact on the quality of life and that the citizens would bear most of the cost for services and off-site infrastructure.
Things came to a head Feb. 28 when the Town Council agreed to give citizens the opportunity to raise their questions. When the same questions were put to Rogers and the Town Planning Department, they were unable to provide answers. The developer withdrew the rezoning request.
Now, Rogers is engaged in a public relations blitz, trying to convince anybody who will listen that this ill-conceived project is a bonanza for everybody. He should have the sense and decency to stop insulting the intelligence of the residents and public officials.
Leonard Meirovitch
Blacksburg
Lesson from Sputnik
The letter ``Scheduling change is supported'' by Connie Lowe, president of the Christiansburg High School PTA [March 21 Roanoke Times & World-News] reminded me that when the Russians shot ``Sputnik'' into orbit, the government responded with easy money for scholarships. We got double periods for physics classes. Since we were not trained for this, time was wasted as students got bored. It was impossible to plan double classes in a daily plan. At one time, schools worked two shifts, and just as much was accomplished. A study of these short-day results would help.
Thomas Lee Cook, retired teacher
Christiansburg
by CNB